The process in Soma, where Yeni Anadolu Madencilik is preparing to end its operations and transfer the business to Kartal Kömür İşletmeleri, has left the future of approximately 1362 miners uncertain. The union management provided information about workers' financial rights and how employment will be shaped in the new period.
Rıza Sal, President of the Turkey Mine Workers' Union Aegean Region Branch No. 1, and Deputy Branch President Murat Kalın explained the details of the transfer process during a meeting with the workers. The discussion focused on the steps to be taken to ensure that employees do not suffer any loss of rights with the change in site management.
Workers' Priority Is Continuation of Employment
Rıza Sal highlighted the uncertainty that has persisted in Soma for the last two years, noting that the business has not received investment for a long time and that the liquidation process is progressing step by step. He stated that the current operation will end as of July 9, 2026, and after this date, the status of the workers will change.
Sal emphasized that the main issue is not compensation but whether workers can continue their jobs. He said negotiations are ongoing with Kartal Kömür İşletmeleri under the supervision of TKİ, and the priority in the new period is to protect current employees.
Sal conveyed that an agreement was reached not to hire external workers during the negotiations, and the new company will prioritize existing workers. He described the workers' livelihood, sustenance, and future as non-negotiable red lines.
Severance and Notice Compensations to Be Paid by TKİ
One of the most pressing topics for workers, severance and notice compensations, was also addressed during the meeting. Sal stated that all past claims, including severance pay, notice pay, rights arising from collective labor agreements, and coal assistance, will be paid by TKİ.
While expressing no doubts on this matter, Sal explained that the real concern is not financial rights but the continuation of employment. He noted that questions about where workers will be employed after July 9 and how they will support their families remain unresolved.
Critical Threshold for the Regional Economy
Sal described mining in Soma not just as a sector but as a fundamental pillar of the regional economy, warning that a halt in production would negatively impact the district. He referred to the Soma Thermal Power Plant as the heart of the region and said that if mining production stops, the district will face serious difficulties.
Sal also mentioned that despite harsh working conditions, miners contribute to the national economy, many workers come from mining families, and some lost relatives in the Soma disaster. He stressed that the struggle is not only a labor fight but also a fight for life.
Workers Want to Continue Without Loss of Rights
Workers who spoke at the meeting expressed that their greatest expectation is job security. One miner said thousands of people depend on this job for their livelihood, everyone has debts and children, and they want the work to continue.
Another worker requested a smooth completion of the transfer process. Workers stated they want to continue working without any loss of rights and under the same conditions, emphasizing that priority should be given to employees who have contributed for years.
The union management stated that negotiations are ongoing to ensure that the hiring process in the new period favors current workers. The transfer in Soma is expected to be decisive both for the future of the workers and the economic balance of the region.
